<<There are conflicts with required courses with every grade level. We
have 2 English teachers, 2 math teachers, 1 science teacher, 1 social
studies teacher, so students have to take their required classes when
they are offered. I am on the scheduling committee, and there is NO
solution that works well for everyone. I don't offer mixed levels within
a class to keep my job - I do it to keep students interested in art.>>

That's exactly the situation at the small private school where I teach;
there's simply no way that kids can get their required classes when
they're offered and then fit in to level-specific arts classes.

In addition to being on the curriculum committee, I'm also the chair of
the fine arts dept. We have art, music, woodworking and added
photography last year. Most dept. heads teach 4 periods a day, I've
always taught 5 periods, and I've offered to teach 6, doing without a
planning period (in exchange for relief from some of the other "duties"
encountered at this boarding/day school and better accomodating students
who want to take art. The powers that be haven't taken me up on it.)

Mixed levels aren't ideal but it helps to know that most of my Art 2-4
kids are those who really want to be there. They understand that there
are days when I'm focusing on Art I kids, but usually I simply alternate
start and stop times with projects so there's not a whole lot of conflict.

There are currently a lot of things I don't like about my employment
situation, but being in my classroom--even with the mix of kids--isn't
one of them. I greatly enjoy my students and I'm willing to work with
the crazy schedules as long as I can teach. I'd go nuts in some sort of
full time administrative position.